Updated on January 25, 2021 at 10:30 pm
NBCUniversal, Inc.
Fort Worth city managers have chosen Deputy Police Chief Neil Noakes to be the new chief, replacing Chief Ed Krauswho announced his retirement last July, the city announced Monday
“Chief Noakes is the right leader, at the right time, for the Fort Worth Police Department and the City of Fort Worth,” Mayor Betsy Price said in a statement on Facebook. “Chief Noakes has proven to have a heart for servant leadership and a vision for rebuilding and strengthening relationships within our communities. He and the 2,400-plus sworn and civilian employees of the department must work with the community in a spirit of solidarity and partnership to continue to build on the foundations that Chief Kraus has laid. I look forward to voting on his appointment with the other councilmembers at our February meeting.”
Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus is retiring, and six people are in the running to replace him. The city provided KERA with each candidate s cover letter and resume.
The public met those candidates on Thursday night, at a forum at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Residents submitted over 100 questions, which were boiled down into six topics.
One area of particular interest: How each candidate would hold officers accountable for being disrespectful, or for using excessive force.
Wendy Baimbridge an assistant chief in the Houston Police Department said departments can t let misbehaving officers off the hook. We unfortunately have had to let go of a lot of officers. I ve been under some chiefs that didn t. And unfortunately, that will fester and grow worse,” she said.